Instructions for Requesting Recommendation Letters

This page contains instructions for students who would like me to write recommendation letters for them.

Please read this before deciding whether to ask me for a letter.

Do you really want me to write a letter for you?

If I know you as a student I will usually be happy to write a letter of recommendation for you. BUT, I can only write about what I know. For example,

If you took a general class with me

I can write about your grade and your interactions with me
If you haven't had many interactions the best that I could write would be about the meaning of your grade

If you are a double major student

I can write generally about how difficult the program is to enter and specifically about the issues of your specific double major curriculum
I can write from the perspective of program advisor who has met and had discussions with you (many places are looking for program advisor recommendations so this is often appropriate)

If you took an independent study or UROP with me

I can write a lot more about you specifically

If you think that this level of letter is appropriate for what you need please email me to set up a meeting to discuss this in person.

General Information I need from you

If I do agree to write a letter for you please email me a copy of all information that you are including in your application, e.g.

Your CV (*)
Up to date transcript including from exchange studies (*)
Information requested here (*)
Statement of purpose
Research papers that you have written

(*) required items

Supplementary Information for one-off recommendations

If this is for a one-off application, e.g., a scholarship, please specify in your cover email the details of the application, e.g.,

Name of scholarship

Submission deadline

Description/purpose

URL of the scholarship site

Any special submission instructions, e.g., format, details to be included

Supplementary Information for Graduate School recommendations

If this is for graduate school applications please also include a list of ALL of the programs to which you are applying, sorted by submission deadline. Each program should include the following information

Name of program e.g., PhD in Computer Science, PhD in Software Engineering, M.A. in Financial Engineering

University, e.g., Stanford, University of Washington, UCLA

Submission Deadline: e.g., December 5, 2017

Whenever you update the list, e.g., adding or inserting an entry, please send me an email telling me what the changes were AND INCLUDING AN UPDATED VERSION OF THE FULL LIST.

If I do agree to write a letter for you, please follow the instructions above. I receive requests to write many letters of recommendations each year. Having you submit the information in the format above helps me streamline the process and meet your application deadlines.

Mordecai Golin
Professor
Department of Computer Science and Engineering
Hong Kong UST
golin@cse.ust.hk